The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1887-11-26

I nc rlcpt HtdhllSs
Don't try and get him away" Mr.
Forrest said. sternly. "Ie shall stay
there all night, and I'll sit upwith him.
You heard what / saidr with bitter
laugh. "Our son is not only drunk
ard, but thief. Let him stay here;
/ want 10 get accustomed 10 the dis
grace which hc has come upon me, and
night with that object before me
will help me 10 realize it. DO you 90
to bed~ must take his management
out OF your weak hands
"You won't drive him away. Jamesl
You'll give him chance? You wiH
give him one opportunity to try TO re-
form Don't turn him out into the
wicked world, 10 be lost forcvcr!" she
pleaded, with sobs. Her husband did
not Immediately answer her, but at
last he said,-
II will not drive him away get. lie
shall have one chance mora single
one. I'll make him understand mat,
when he can understand any thing.
Now leave me with him.
The poor mother crcpt weeping 10
her bed. She let the door partly open
between the rooms, that she might
watch both husband and son. Mr..
Forrest sat rigid and mOtionlcss. as if
he were carved in stone, but the boy
slept on heavily. Towards morning
he began 10 move uncasily in his seat,
then raised his head from the table
and straightcned himself up. The
mother. whose eyes had not closed
through the whole of that long night.
could almost see the terrified express
ion in his eyes when they fell on his
fathers grim figure opposite. Ito rose
unsteadily 10 his feet.
stop, sir!' said his father, walking
to him. 81 have a few words to say to
YOU"
What was said was in too low voice
for Mrs. Forrest 10 hear. There were
few brief questions, and when David
answered one of them, he hung his
head like = convicted criminal Then
she heard her husbands stern voice
for few minutes longer, and David
half staggered to the back door, opened
it and passed out.
Mrs. Forrest did not dare TO ask her
husband any questions, but did not feel
uneasy when David did not appear at
breakfast. She concluded he had gone
10 the store, not wishing To meet his
father so soon again. But when din
ncr time came and he was still absent
her fears were awakened aud she no
tlccd her husband east uneasy glanccs
towards thc door whenever it was
opened. She put on her bonnet after
dinner and went directly to the store.
Mr.. Rapp was standing ut the door.
Good evening, Mrs. Forrest he
said. "Whcrc on earth is David to-
day?'
"Isn't he i'm the storc?' she asked.
with her heart beating like sledge-
hammer.
Indeed, he isn't. He came in for
minute early this morning and handed
me "A tcn-dollar bill aud mumblcd out
something about having forgotten 30
put it in the till. couldn't make ont
what he did say. He looked pale and
sick, and I'm sure sught to have been
in bed.
Without a word Mrs Forrest hurried
home
What did YOU say to him?" shc
cried, passionatcly, to her husband.
you've been harsh and cruel to him,
| know, and now he's gone away
and | shall never, never see my boy
again"
II told him what said | would. 4" he
answered. coldlv. zone more chance
| gave him for amendment. Yes. |
told him he was . disgrace, n clinging
disgrace, for didn't believe he would
reform. gave him some money To re-
place what he stole, and t!at was all.
| don't regret n word | said. Rcproach
your own weakness 1t isn't just to
rcproach me. Since ne has chosen to
leave us, it is perhaps the best thing he
could do"
But though Mr.. Forrest spoke in this
manner, he spared neither money nor
labor to gain SOME tidings of his son.
They traced him to a seaport town, and
then lost all trace as utterly rs if the
earth had closed over him. As months
and years rolled by, Mr. Forrest gave
up expectation of ever seeing him
again, but the mother hoped still. The
father grew more silent and sad. Time
as it passed had taught him that he had
erred in the harshncSs aud bitterness
with which he had treated his son, and
he would have liked to rotract some
of his words. MisfortuncS, too, had
pressed upon him. His crops had
failed three years in succession, he had
mortgagcd his fare i'm oscr that he
might live; and in few days there
was to bc a foreclosure of the mort
gage. and the old place must pass out
of his hands.
Its no use Striving any longer,
Sarah" he said. lrcarily; Il do not
know where TO look for help, and we
must submit and leave the old home
stead. Father was born here. rs well
as myself. and hoped to die in the
house in which he died Wen barely
have roof over us ut Myron Cottage.
but nj least it will be our own. We
didn't think much of il when your aunt
left it to you, and now it's our last
refuge"